Ben Arnold

Movie Writer at Yahoo! UK Movies

[ben-arnold]

The Trainspotting 2 sequel has landed

“Choose life. Choose Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and hope that someone, somewhere, cares.”

Just as 'Trainspotting' hit the zeitgeist in 1996, so it's sequel, coming 20 years after the original, wants a bit of that action too.

- Disney have most successful box office year ever - Fantastic Beasts 2 will be set in Paris - Van Helsing reboot will be set in present-day

The first trailer for 'T2 Trainspotting' has landed, and with its Underworld soundtrack chiming in, it's hit peak nostalgia.

Picking up the story of Irvine Welsh's follow-up novel 'Porno', it finds Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle back for some more nihilistic capers.

And there are some wonderful callbacks to the original movie – McGregor's Renton on the run through the streets of Edinburgh, the trip out to the Scottish countryside, the drug use, the being run over by a car.

Penned by John Hodge and directed, of course, by Danny Boyle, it's out on January 27, 2017.

And looks like it might just be brilliant.

Image credits: Sony/Film Four

[ben-arnold]

IMDb founder watches 10,000 movies, reveals his all-time Top 10

The resource that's solved a million pub arguments, IMDb should be in the bookmarks and on the home screens of every self-respecting film fan.

But what of the man who created it? Is he a rom-com fan? Or a zombie buff?

– Supercut video of Tom Cruise running scenes – Thor: Ragnarok director ‘ignoring’ MCU – John Carpenter knows nothing about Big Trouble In Little China remake

Col Needham, the founder and CEO of the vast movie database, has now revealed his top movies of all time.

At the top is Hitchcock's classic 'Vertigo', which he says he's seen over 50 times.

He revealed the list to The Wrap, and commented on each choice too.

1. Vertigo (1958) “I fell in love with Kim Novak’s character and the ‘Oh no, that’s not what happened at all’ aspect of the movie.”

2. Inception (2010) “I love a twist ending or a twist middle. I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan.” 3. North By Northwest (1959)“The suave sophistication of Cary Grant’s character is unmatched. It also serves as a proxy for great Hitchcock films: ‘Spellbound,’ ‘Notorious’ and ‘Rebecca.'”

4. Double Indemnity (1944) “It’s a Billy Wilder film where he does superb film noir.”

5. Bringing Up Baby (1938) “In my opinion, this is the funniest movie ever made. It stars my all-time favorite actor, Cary Grant, and my all-time favorite actress, Katharine Hepburn (after whom I named one of my daughters).”

6. Aliens (1986) “This is actually the film I’ve seen more than any other film — more than 60 times, including twice in French… ‘Aliens’ has relentless thrills and action. Once everything starts to go wrong on that planet it’s non-stop.”

7. Se7en (1995) “That was one of my most tense viewing experiences. The conflict at the end is the best part: Should he dispense justice or not?”

8. Pulp Fiction (1994) “It redefined cinema in the 90s… The non-linear timeline is great, as are the opening and closing scenes from two different perspectives.”

9. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) “Hitchcock, Wilder, Stanley Kubrick is the order of directors I love… I was haunted by that film for weeks… People don’t realize it’s a Christmas movie. There’s a Christmas tree in virtually every scene. It’s one of two movies I re-watch every Christmas Eve — that and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.'”

10. Touch of Evil (1958) “This is the last great film noir and I remember being blown away by the famous single take opening shot. It also has one of my favorite endings of all time.”

'Jaws' and 'The Apartment' almost made the cut, he said, but he had to draw the line and keep them out of the top 10.

Amazingly, he also revealed in the interview that he's now seen 10,000 movies.

Over the last 10 months, he has jammed in 480 film screenings in order to meet his target, which was to rack up 10,000 movies by the time he was 50.

He also finished in time for IMDb's 26th anniversary, which is today.

The 10,000th movie he saw was the celebrated drama 'A Monster Calls'.

Image credits: Rex Features/Getty

[ben-arnold]

James Bond's deadliest movies revealed

James Bond has notched up 300 kills over his 24 movies, its been revealed.

According to macabre research conducted by the MI6-HQ fan website, that works out at almost 13 kills per mission for the veteran secret agent.

– Supercut video of Tom Cruise running scenes – Thor: Ragnarok director ‘ignoring’ MCU – John Carpenter knows nothing about Big Trouble In Little China remake

And as far as deadly movies go, it's the most recent, 'Spectre', which is the most violent, with more henchman dispatched than any other movie.

It's followed by 'Tomorrow Never Dies' at number two, 'Thunderball' at number three, 'You Only Live Twice' at number four and 'The World Is Not Enough' at number five.

Meanwhile, Daniel Craig tops the highest kills average, with 18.75 per mission, followed by Pierce Brosnan at 18.25.

But despite 'Spectre' featuring the most murder, Daniel Craig is just shy of the top spot when it comes to state-sponsored killing.

Sean Connery tops that ignominious list, with 82 kills in all over his seven movies.

Here's the list – and the number of kills – in full:

Sean Connery – 82

Daniel Craig – 75

Pierce Brosnan – 73

Roger Moore – 65

Timothy Dalton – 14

George Lazenby – 8

Should Craig return for another Bond movie, he'll should be able to top Connery's tally without breaking much of a sweat.

(Image credits: Eon/Rex Features)

[ben-arnold]

How much do top (and not so top) celebrities charge for appearances?

If you want your favourite celebrity to pitch up for your special event, it can be arranged. For a price, of course. (Image credits: AP/PA/AFP/Rex Features/Getty/ITV

Rihanna – £5 million

Owners of the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London, reportedly paid Rhi-Rhi a gob-smacking £5 million to turn on its Christmas lights in 2012.

Justin Bieber – £820,000

Want Justin Bieber to play at your next birthday party? It'll cost you around $1 million (or about £820,000). Which is a touch on the prohibitive side, admittedly.

Kim Kardashian – £400,000

Kim doesn't pitch up for peanuts. She scored this figure for going to a particular casino in Las Vegas for her 30th birthday.

Tony Blair – £330,000

After dinner speaking certainly pays better than being PM. In fact, Tony Blair can earn more than twice as much as his prime ministerial salary (£143,000) in a single night.

Nicki Minaj – £200,000

Not only will Nicki require £200,000 for an appearance, she'll also need a gallon of lemonade, two dozen roses and spicy fried chicken, as per her rider.

Ellie Goulding – £122,000

You too would be starry-eyed if you could earn this much for belting out a few tunes.

Simon Cowell – £80,000

If you'd like Cowell to pass judgement on your next karaoke evening, you'll have to dig deep. 80 grand deep, to be precise.

Jeremy Clarkson – £50,000

An evening of motoring anecdotes from Clarkson will cost you the best part of £50,000. But for god's sake, make sure he gets a hot meal.

Nick Clegg – £35,000

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg probably finds the after-dinner circuit much less stressful than coalition politics. The fee will also help.

Gary Lineker – £25,000

Lineker will chat football till the camels come home. Well, for £25,000 he will.

Katie Price – £25,000

If Gary isn't your bag, for the same money you could get Katie Price to discuss her literary career instead.

Ainsley Harriot – £11,000

Percy Pepper, Suzy Salt, and 11 grand, please.

John Craven – £10,000 (plus travel expenses)

Countryfile and Newsround legend John Craven will gas on for £10,000, but that's without travel. Fortunately, he doesn't seem like the private jet type.

Dick and Dom – £5800 (for both)

Madcap bungalow dwellers Dick and Dom will bugger about at your event for a reasonable £5,800. Seems better value there being two of them, for some reason.

Brian Blessed – £6500

Stunning anecdotes belted out at booming volume? Surely the very best £6500 you will ever spend in your life.

Barbara Windsor – £5000

Tales of Albert Square and Carrying On will set you back £5000 for an evening with national treasure Babs.

Chico – £3700

It could be Chico Time all the time, for just shy of four grand.

Ruth Madoc – £2700

Morning campers! Get 'Hi-de-Hi' star Ruth for a blast from the past.

Jeff Brazier – £2500

Dig deep. That regional supermarket isn't going to open itself.

Richard Blackwood – £1200

When Chico isn't available, grab EastEnder Richard Blackwood instead for a bargain price.

Wagner – £1000

Wagner. No words necessary.

[ben-arnold]

Roger Moore is 89 – his life in quotes

Moore… is celebrating his 89th birthday (Credit: Eon)

Roger Moore is celebrating his 89th birthday today.

So by way of marking the auspicious occasion, here are some of the finest words of infinite wisdom from the celebrated raconteur.

– Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad told her fame was turning her into an ‘a**hole’ – Hanks attacks Donald Trump over ‘locker room’ comments – Decoding the new Rogue One poster

“I enjoy being a highly overpaid actor.”

“I speak relatively little, except when I’m at home and I’m asking for things.”

(Credit: AP)

“My acting range has always been something between the two extremes of ‘raises left eyebrow’ and ‘raises right eyebrow’.”

“I’m sorry to say that no, I do not play the piano.”

“Teach love, generosity, good manners and some of that will drift from the classroom to the home and who knows, the children will be educating the parents.”

(Credit: Rex Features)

“Of course, I do my own stunts. And I also do my own lying.”

[On taking the role of James Bond] “When I was a young actor at RADA, Noël Coward was in the audience one night. He said to me after the play, ‘Young man, with your devastating good looks and your disastrous lack of talent, you should take any job ever offered you. In the event that you’re offered two jobs simultaneously, take the one that offers the most money’. Here I am.”

“To me, the Bond situations are so ridiculous, so outrageous. I mean, this man is supposed to be a spy and yet, everybody knows he’s a spy. Every bartender in the world offers him martinis that are shaken, not stirred. What kind of serious spy is recognized everywhere he goes? It’s outrageous.”

(Credit: PA)

[About his son who owns a London restaurant] “You could say he has a ‘License to Grill’.”

“You’re not a star till they can spell your name in Vladivostok.”

“Sadly, I had to retire from the Bond films. The girls were getting younger, or I was just getting too old.”

(Credit: PA)

“If I kept all my bad notices, I’d need two houses.”

“I would love to be remembered as one of the greatest Lears or Hamlets. But, as that’s not going to happen, I’m quite happy I did Bond.”

“I’ve not planned my funeral. I’m not the Queen. A procession through the streets of Stockwell would be nice, I suppose. But when I go, I’d just like everyone to say: ‘He lived longer than anyone I knew’.”

[ben-arnold]

J.K. Rowling defends choice to make five Fantastic Beasts movies

Beasts… Rowling seeks to quell fears – Credit: Warner Bros

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is very much an ancillary text in the ‘Harry Potter’ canon.

So the yesterday’s news that five films based on the book are being planned in a new franchise has taken aback some fans of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world.

– Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad told her fame was turning her into an ‘a**hole’ – Hanks attacks Donald Trump over ‘locker room’ comments – Decoding the new Rogue One poster

However, the writer has taken to Twitter to calm fears, and of course, it’s worth noting that she will be writing all of them.

(Credit: AFP)

She revealed the news during a Q&A session at the Empire Theatre in London yesterday, ahead of the first movie’s release next month.

“I’m pretty sure that there are going to be five movies, now that I’ve been able to properly plot them out,” she said.

“We always knew that there would be more than one.”

Later that evening, she unleashed a flurry of – hopefully – reassuring tweets. And some funny ones too.

I think, when you realise what story we're *really* telling, you'll understand that it can't possibly fit in one movie! https://t.co/xV5vYwCDdr

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

Not 'at least.' Five. Five movies. https://t.co/61YvDIKPsG

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

Five. Not seven. Not three. Five.

(Got a feeling this is going to be the new 'not a prequel'). https://t.co/ZkjEeeDQjj

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

5. Five. Cinq. Fünf. Cinco. Cinque. https://t.co/t8UVZMtO8V

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

No… it will be FIVE PREQUELS! https://t.co/EKuPD2qP6l

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

I see what you did there.

4.95 (0.05 is nerves). https://t.co/EJ9etKj4dG

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 13, 2016

“I’m the screenwriter. Currently putting the finishing touches to the second one,” she also added.

(Credit: Warner Bros)

The movie stars Eddie Redmayne as the ‘magizoologist’ Newt Scamander, writer of the textbook ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, as featured in the Harry Potter novels.

It’s due out on November 18 across the UK.

[ben-arnold]

Tom Hanks' new Robert Langdon movie Inferno gets a panning

Panned… critics have not been kind to Inferno – Credit: Sony Pictures

There’s not much good will out there for the latest movie adaptation of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, ‘Inferno’.

In fact, the Tom Hanks conspiracy peril-a-thon has taken a bit of a panning at the hands of the critics.

– Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad told her fame was turning her into an ‘a**hole’ – Hanks attacks Donald Trump over ‘locker room’ comments – Decoding the new Rogue One poster

Helmed once again by Ron Howard, Hanks’ magizoologist, sorry, symbologist, is on the trail of Ben Foster’s Betrand Zobrist, a scientist bent on solving the human race’s population problem in a particularly apocalyptic manner.

Langdon too finds himself the subject of a manhunt, though he’s assisted along the way by ‘Rogue One’ star Felicity Jones’s Dr. Sienna Brooks.

As per the title, Dante’s ‘Inferno’ from his ‘Divine Comedy’ comes up here and there, as a lethal obsession of Zobrist.

Some took an issue with the movie’s over-reliance on running people:

“If you excised all the shots of people running in Ron Howard’s Inferno, the film’s entire run time would amount to roughly four minutes,” said Little White Lies, in a lowly one-star review.

(Credit: Sony Pictures)

Others simply found it stultifying.

“Purgatorio is maybe closer to it – something bad is happening, not the full Inferno, but it could be the gateway to the Paradiso of this fantastically boring film actually coming to an end,” said The Guardian, also giving is a singular star.

Jason Solomons for The Wrap gave an ominous notice: “I kept hoping a Wayans brother would pop in and signal it was all one big genre parody, and when you’re fervently wishing for a Wayans, you know you’re in trouble.”

Some were slightly – but only slightly – kinder. The Hollywood Reporter called it ‘arguably the best in the franchise so far’, but then the critics weren’t particularly kind to those either.

(Credit: Sony Pictures)

Helen O’Hara in Empire agreed, to a point, calling it ‘not the worst of the trilogy, but this is less for fans of thrillers and more for people who are pining after last year’s holiday to Florence’.

Screen International added: “Howard keeps the viewer constantly occupied, Felicity Jones is an engaging sidekick, and there’s clearly a lot more mileage left for Tom Hanks in this franchise’s tank.”

Such opinions as the above, however, are sadly thin on the ground.

Currently sporting a 29% ‘fresh’ rating on reviews aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, ‘Inferno’ is out October 14 across the UK.

[ben-arnold]

Harry Potter star Devon Murray considered suicide in 10-year depression battle

Murray… revealed he’s suffered depression for a decade – Credit: Warner Bros

Harry Potter star Devon Murray has revealed that he thought about taking his own life during a secret battle with depression.

Murray, who played Seamus Finnigan in the movie series, made the comments in an interview with RTE 2fm radio yesterday.

– Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad told her fame was turning her into an ‘a**hole’ – Hanks attacks Donald Trump over ‘locker room’ comments – Decoding the new Rogue One poster

“My self-confidence and everything had come to an all-time low,” he said.

“All these friends could have supported me but I blocked them out, I didn’t want them to see how low I was. I didn’t want them to look at me any differently. It was the worst thing I could have done, because they could have been there for me.

“It was something that was eating me away.”

The 27-year-old, who was 12 when he first starred in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, spoke about contemplating suicide earlier this year.

(Credit: Variety)

“I was a mess. I’d felt like I let down my parents, that I couldn’t do anything right, I was pointless, I was just a disaster,” he said.

“Come April, I was stood in a barn, where I’d cleaned out the horse’s stables, I’d turned them out into the fields, and I had a rope. I threw it over one of the bannisters in the barn. And I was pretty much getting ready to hang myself… I’d had thoughts before, but never to the extent of getting everything ready.

“I texted my mum and my dad. I can’t remember exactly what I said to them, but it was me asking for help, without actually asking for help.

“I was in bits. I was telling them how sorry I was for everything that I’d done, everything I’d messed up on. I felt like I was messing up their lives. I was saying sorry for all this, and they must have known something was seriously up.

(Credit: Warner Bros)

“I completely regret not saying what I was feeling when I was 16. Harry Potter was the best thing in my life but in a sense turned into the worst times of my life.”

The low points came at the same time as a court case with his former manager, who Murray was ordered to pay £210,000 to in unpaid feeds in April this year.

Murray tweeted to his 224,000 followers about his issues with depression on October 10, which was World Mental Health Day, receiving widespread support from fans.

I've been battling depression in silence for ten years & only recently spoke about it and has made a huge difference #worldmentalhealthday

— Devon Murray (@DevonMMurray) October 10, 2016

I had suicidal thoughts this year and that was the kick up the arse that I needed! Open up, talk to people #worldmentalhealthday

— Devon Murray (@DevonMMurray) October 10, 2016

If you suspect a friend or family member is suffering in silence #ReachOut to them. Let them know you care #worldmentalhealthday

— Devon Murray (@DevonMMurray) October 10, 2016

[ben-arnold]

Defending Trump, Mike Huckabee gets the plot of Jaws horribly wrong

Erm… Trump eaten by Hillary in clumsy analogy – Credit: Universal/AP

Looks like someone needs to re-watch ‘Jaws’.

In a ham-fisted attempt to extol the rough-and-ready virtues of Donald Trump, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee compared him to Quint from Spielberg’s timeless classic, while in his poorly thought-out analogy, Hillary Clinton is the deadly shark.

– Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad told her fame was turning her into an ‘a**hole’ – Hanks attacks Donald Trump over ‘locker room’ comments – Decoding the new Rogue One poster

Except – spoiler alert – the shark eats Quint at the end of the movie.

“He’s vulgar, he’s salty, he might even get drunk… but hold on here, okay? He’s the guy who’s going to save your butt and save your family,” he told Megan Kelly on Fox News.

Mike Huckabee compared Donald Trump to a "Jaws" character who gets eaten ???? https://t.co/YErJkKpkfQ pic.twitter.com/XL5gWb35BY

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) October 11, 2016

“And so at the end of the day, when he kills the shark, you’re happy about it. Now, Hillary is the shark. She’s gonna eat your boat.

“Do you vote for Captain Quint, who’s going to save your family, or do you vote for the shark?”

Following the remarks, Kelly then delights in explaining the plot of ‘Jaws’ to Huckabee.

“Governor, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Captain Quint got eaten by the shark at the end of that movie,” she says.

“But he died saving the other people,” retorts Huckabee.

Hmmm, more ‘died kicking and screaming’ than ‘saving the other people’, but as a soundbite, the former sounds pretty bad.

Robert Shaw’s ‘salty’ Quint not only fails to survive the shark hunt, he also doesn’t kill the shark, as Huckabee claims – Roy Schneider’s Chief Brody does using the trusty oxygen tanks and a rifle, as anyone with a decent grasp on a film analogy should know.

[ben-arnold]

The best-selling singles of the 2000s in the UK

Who were the biggest-selling singles act of the decade known as the noughties? Madonna? Coldplay? Nope... The answers may surprise - and in some cases - sadden you. Image credits: (Mercury/Rex Features/Sony BMG/MCA/BBC/Parlophone)

Bob The Builder – Can We Fix It?

Say what you like about Neil Morrissey, he sang one of the best-selling singles in a decade and beat Westlife to Christmas number one with Can We Fix It as Bob The Builder. It sold over one million copies in 2000.

Hear’Say – Pure and Simple

The lead single from 'Popstars' band Hear'Say, it was co-written by Betty Boo and sold 550,000 copies in a week, back in 2001. In all, it sold 1.08 million, and spent three weeks at number one.

Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal

Another single from the TV talent show crop, Shane's 'X Factor' winner's single, released in 2005, shifted a sterling 1,103,351 copies in all, the second biggest single of the year.

Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head

Kyles broke the US with this 2001 single, the insanely infectious (and aptly named) Can't Get You Out Of My Head. It went to number one in over 20 countries, and sold 1,200,000 in the UK. That's double platinum.

Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas

Bob Geldof updated both the song and the line up for Band Aid 20's barn-storming charity single in 2004. Chris Martin was instrumental in the rebooting of the track, and it ended up selling 200,000 copies in a week, and over 1.2 million copies in all.

Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah

A deeply odd choice for a X Factor winner's single, but one expects that Leonard Cohen was not especially upset by the additional royalties a single which sold 1.28 million copies brings with it, the biggest-selling X Factor single ever. Alexandra, he owes you a fruit basket.

Tony Christie feat. Peter Kay – (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

Peter Kay was a big fan of the Tony Christie track, using it in his series 'Phoenix Nights'. Re-releasing it with a new video for Comic Relief, it brought home the bacon for charity, selling 1.32 million copies.

Gareth Gates – Unchained Melody

Another cover – all to the good for Righteous Brothers Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley – this version from the 'Pop Idol' runner-up Gareth Gates sold 1.34 million copies.

Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me

But it was you, wasn't it Shaggy. Poor advice aside, this 2000 single with vocals from Rikrok shifted a massive 1.37 million units in all. The flat denial of an accusation despite clear evidence to the contrary has since been called 'the Shaggy defence'.

Will Young – Evergreen

Beating Gareth Gates to the top, Will Young's 'Evergreen' became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling an insane 403,027 copies on its first day alone. In all, it sold 1.79 million copies, and was the biggest-selling single of the 21st century, until Pharrell's 'Happy' topped it in 2015.

[ben-arnold]

Hikers bump into Mel Gibson up a mountain

Gibson… spotted up a hill in County Wicklow – Credit: Instagram/Heather Fogarty

So, you’re just up a hill, and you bump into Mel Gibson.

And while this sort of thing happens all the time, nonetheless a snap of pals Heather Fogarty, Michael O’Connor and Shane Gallagher with the Hollywood star is going viral.

– Seven magnificent 21st century westerns – Fantastic Beasts posters reveal Harry Potter link – Nicolas Cage hunts Bin Laden in Army of One trailer

The three were hiking up the Great Sugar Loaf, in County Wicklow, when Mel pitched up.

“Climbed the Sugar Loaf today!” captioned Heather.

“It was great fun bit of yoga thrown in and to top it all off we met Mel Gibson at the summit! #SolidSunday.”

Gibson is in Ireland filming his new movie ‘The Professor and the Madman’ with Sean Penn, in and around Dublin.

He’s also been snapped at the FX Buckley Steakhouse in the city too, posing for a picture with Albert, the restaurant’s sommelier.

Steak… Mel has his medium rare – Credit: Facebook/FX Buckley

Apparently, he had the kidneys and a fillet steak, medium rare.

The movie is about the compilation of the first Oxford English dictionary in the mid-19th century, and how its creator, Sir James Murray, received over 10,000 entries from a doctor imprisoned at Broadmoor.

Director Farhad Safinia, who wrote Gibson’s ‘Apocalypto’, is behind the camera, and it also stars Natalie Dormer and Jeremy Irvine.

Its based on the book of the same name, written by Simon Winchester.

[ben-arnold]

Batman arrives in Cumbria to clean up 'killer clown' craze

Caped crusader… is cleaning up Whitehaven – Credit: BBC Cumbria/Cumbria Superheroes

Tell your friends… he’s the Batman. And he’s coming to clean up the clowns.

Following the recent spate of creepy clowns scaring children (and grown ups) around the UK, a masked gent dressed as Batman has been stepping in.

– Seven magnificent 21st century westerns – Fantastic Beasts posters reveal Harry Potter link – Nicolas Cage hunts Bin Laden in Army of One trailer

A picture shared on Facebook, and then picked up by BBC Cumbria, appears to show the caped crusader chasing off a ‘joker’ in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Joker… legs it with Batman in pursuit – Credit: BBC Cumbria/Cumbria Superheroes

According to reports, the Batman was sent out to fend off the clowns by a local costume company called Cumbria Superheroes.

The move came after it appeared that local children were becoming frightened following a series of incidents.

The News & Star reports that the man is ‘not a vigilante, but is hoping to give children some reassurance that they are safe’.

Local woman Jennie Cochrane told the paper: “My two young daughters haven’t even seen one out on the streets, just what’s on the news, and they both were up with nightmares last night.

“They shared a bed with all night lights on to protect them from the stupid clowns.

“It’s sick and the people doing it need their heads looked at. It’s pathetic and it needs to end.”

Cumbria Police has warned that it will take action against anyone found to be terrorising others on the streets, and that they may be committing a criminal offence.

It was reported that two teenagers in Whitehaven and a mother with a buggy had been chased and threatened.

[ben-arnold]

Miranda Hart bags her biggest Hollywood role yet for Disney's Nutcracker

Hart… set for role in Disney’s Nutcracker – Credit: Getty

Miranda Hart has landed her biggest Hollywood role yet – in the forthcoming live-action adaptation of The Nutcracker from Disney.

She’ll join Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy and Morgan Freeman on the bill so far, playing the role of Dew Drop, a ‘comedic fairy’, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

– Seven magnificent 21st century westerns – Fantastic Beasts posters reveal Harry Potter link – Nicolas Cage hunts Bin Laden in Army of One trailer

Knightley will be playing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, while ballerina Misty Copeland will also star.

‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’, to give it its full title, will adapt ETA Hoffman’s famous story ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’ from 1816.

(Credit: BBC)

Tchaikovsky then adapted the story in his libretto for the ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ in 1892.

It will tell the story of Clara (played by Foy), a young girl who on the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve is transported to a magical world, which is in the midst of war between an gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.

Directing will be Lasse Hallström, helmsman of movies like ‘Chocolat’, ‘The Cider House Rules’ and ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’.

It’s not the first time that Disney has adapted the story, using it for the basis of its film ‘Fantasia’ in 1940.

The role is another step in Hollywood for the ‘Call The Midwife’ star.

(Credit: Fox)

She stole the show with her role in ‘Spy’ last year, appearing opposite Jason Statham and Melissa McCarthy in the espionage comedy.

Hart is also set to appear in a new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Canterville Ghost’, due out next year and also starring Freddie Highmore, Hugh Laurie, Toby Jones, Imelda Staunton and Stephen Fry.

[ben-arnold]

Gwyneth Paltrow's dad told her fame was turning her into an 'a**hole'

Paltrow… got some home truths from her late father – Credit: PA

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that her dad, the late producer and director, Bruce Paltrow, gave her something of a reality check back in the days when he thought she might be getting too big for her boots.

The 44-year-old got the wake-up call at ‘maybe 27 years old and kind of at the height of my movie stardom’, she told Harper’s Bazaar.

– Seven magnificent 21st century westerns – Fantastic Beasts posters reveal Harry Potter link – Nicolas Cage hunts Bin Laden in Army of One trailer

“It was around the time of [my 1999 Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love] and this and that. I think I was very much believing my own hype, which how could you not?

(Rex Features)

“I was sitting with my dad, feeling great about my life and everything that was happening, and he was like, ‘You know, you’re getting a little weird… You’re kind of an a**hole.’ And I was like, ‘What the hell?’ I was totally devastated.”

But she says once the shock had dissipated, she took the words as good advice.

“It turned out to be basically the best thing that ever happened to me,” she added.

“It’s the difference between someone who loves you more than anything in the world giving you criticism and getting it from some bitter stranger on the internet.

(Alexi Lubomirski/Harper’s Bazaar)

“What my dad said to me was the kind of criticism where I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m on the wrong track.’ I’m so grateful for him doing that. He was such a no-nonsense guy in that sense.”

Paltrow was the producer of hit shows like ‘St Elsewhere’ and basketball drama ‘The White Shadow’, and director of shows like cult classic ‘Homicide: Life of the Streets’.

He died from complications caused by oral cancer and pneumonia in October 2002.

[ben-arnold]

Is Wonder Woman bisexual? Gal Gadot answers

Bisexual?… Gal Gadot broaches the subject – Credit: Warner Bros

Following the news that Wonder Woman is bisexual – thanks to her current comicbook writer Greg Rucka – Gal Gadot has broached whether there will be any broaching of the subject in the forthcoming movie.

Gadot, who is playing the Amazonian superhero, was doing the rounds for new comedy ‘Keeping Up With The Joneses’ when the subject came up.

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“It’s not in the film,” she told Yahoo Movies US.

“In the film she falls in love with a man [Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine]. But in general — I read this article as well — I think Wonder Woman is all about heart, and she cares for people without paying too much attention to their gender.

Rucka revealed the sexuality of Wonder Woman during an interview with Comicosity last month.

“It’s supposed to be paradise,” he explained.

“You’re supposed to be able to live happily. You’re supposed to be able — in a context where one can live happily, and part of what an individual needs for that happiness is to have a partner — to have a fulfilling, romantic and sexual relationship. And the only options are women.

“But an Amazon doesn’t look at another Amazon and say, ‘You’re gay.’ They don’t. The concept doesn’t exist. Now, are we saying Diana has been in love and had relationships with other women? As Nicola [Scott, Rucka’s artist and collaborator on the Wonder Woman: Year One storyline] and I approach it, the answer is obviously yes.”

Gadot’s take on Wonder Woman made its debut for the DC cinematic universe in ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’.

Her standalone movie, also starring Pine, Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright, is due out in June, 2017.

[ben-arnold]

Disney to launch new 'big sleeve' DVD edition for classic movies

New release… large format DVD releases coming from Disney – Credit: Disney

Here’s one to get the collectors salivating… Disney is to launch new ‘big sleeve’ DVD editions of some of its classic movies.

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The releases will be ‘super-sized’, and issued in collectable, 12” vinyl-style packaging, which will come complete with bespoke artwork.

Aladdin… also among the movie’s getting the large format treatment – Credit: Disney

Classic movies including ‘Aladdin’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Cinderella’ are being unveiled in the new format.

There will also be multi-disc releases of ‘Finding Dory’, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ issued too.

Guardians… out in time for Christmas – Credit: Disney

As per a normal DVD or Blu-ray release, the special editions will feature the movie disc plus additional discs featuring extras like commentaries, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage.

They can be pre-ordered now, and will hit stores from November 28.

[ben-arnold]

10 shameless copycat TV shows

Shameless examples of TV shows using the same ideas, formats, and in some cases, stars.

Friends copied Living Single

Debuting a year before 'Friends', 'Living Single' is basically the exact same premise; a sitcom featuring six young 'friends' living a footloose life in New York. Living Single featured an all-African American cast, but replace the West Village with Brooklyn, and Bob's your uncle.

Saturday Cooks copied Saturday Kitchen

Antony Worrall Thompson defected from BBC's 'Saturday Kitchen' to make 'Saturday Cooks!' for ITV. They were completely identical. The latter didn't last, however.

The Big Allotment Challenge copied The Great British Bake Off

The Big Allotment Challenge was basically Bake Off. But with vegetables. Countryside location? Check. Judging tent? Check. Folksy Britishness? Double check.

Restaurant: Impossible copied Kitchen Nightmares

In which a shouty British chef (called either Gordon Ramsey or Robert Irvine) breaks rubbish restaurants and their owners down before building them back up again.

The Theorists copied Big Bang Theory

The Theorists is an almost shot-for-shot, direct translation – in Russian – of Big Bang Theory, made for Belarusian TV, featuring four nerdy friends living next door to a beautiful blonde waitress. BBT boss Chuck Lorre discovered it and informed Warner Bros about the show, but he was told that as it's made by the Belarusian government, it's almost impossible to sue for copyright infringement.

Pan Am copied Mad Men

Desperately trying to cash in on the effortless period cool of Mad Men, Pan Am traded the world of advertising for the world of 60s air travel. Critics hated it, and it was axed after one series.

The Mentalist copied Psych

One's a comedy-drama, one's a drama-thriller. Both are the same. In The Mentalist, Simon Baker plays a fraudulent psychic medium helping the police solve murders. In Psych, James Roday is a fraudulent psychic medium helping the police solve murders.

The Glass House copied Big Brother

The Glass House was a reality show about a house filled with cameras, with viewers voting on who would stay in the house and win a cash prize. It was made by a team of former Big Brother staff members, and unsurprisingly, lasted only a season before ABC was taken to court by CBS. They settled out of court and the show was never seen on TV again.

Fifth Gear copied Top Gear

When Top Gear was on its last legs, and the BBC was about to put it out of its misery (pre-Clarkson revamp), former TG presenters Tiff Needell, Quentin Wilson and Vicki Butler-Henderson jumped ship and produced the really rather similar Fifth Gear for Channel 5. They even wanted to use the Top Gear name, but the BBC wouldn't allow it.

Sunday Brunch copied Something For The Weekend

Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer's 'Something For The Weekend' was axed by the BBC in 2012. So off they headed to Channel 4, where they made 'Sunday Brunch', using exactly the same format.

Image credits: BBC/ITV/Food Network/USA/CBS/Fox/Channel 4